An Elegant, Spring Wedding at Californos in Kansas City, Missouri

For Braden Miller (30 and a senior systems engineer) and Katie Bracken (29 and a senior project manager), their wedding embodied whimsical elegance. After choosing base colors of ivory and champagne, Katie and Braden added eccentric pops of color through floral arrangements. "We really wanted to have wildflowers throughout our decor," Katie says. "And since we were married in the spring, the flowers were definitely the inspiration. We love spending time outdoors, and we feel most connected when we are in nature, so we wanted to bring that element into our wedding style." Boesen Florals created spring-themed bouquets using peonies, garden roses, tulips, ranunculus and wildflowers. For the ceremony, Katie wore a silk, chiffon Paloma Blanca dress. "I wanted a dress that could work for both a traditional church ceremony as well as a carefree and whimsical reception," Katie says. As for her "something borrowed," Katie wore a pearl necklace from her grandmother, and a vintage veil that her mother had worn in her wedding to Katie's father. After the ceremony, guests were invited to Nelson Atkins Museum for a group picture, where they released red balloons—a Cornhusker tradition that paid homage to Braden's Nebraska roots. After the photo shoot was a wedding reception at Californos, in the historic Westport section of Kansas City, Missouri. "With exposed brick, worn hardwood and a homey feel, the vibe was really fun and laid back," Katie says. One of our favorite elements from the reception? Katie changed into a vibrant flower crown to reflect her free spirit and the wedding's whimsy. Her advice for other couples? "Choose what's important to you on your wedding day. Don't worry about what you're supposed to do. Give yourself time to breathe, and enjoy it together." Each moment of the celebration was beautifully captured by Marissa Cribbs Photography, with more photos below.